LAHORE, Feb 27: The Punjab University Syndicate has concurred with the findings that a former principal of the varsity’s Information Technology college had embezzled Rs4.8 million, and directed him to pay back the money or face National Accountability Bureau.

Prof Dr Majid Naeem, who was appointed the PUCIT’s first principal in Jan 2001, was suspended on the charges of financial irregularities in March 2002.

Dr Majid claimed that the decision was unilateral, as he was not given a chance to record his statement before the university’s inquiry committee. He, however, said now he would be able to present his point of view before NAB.

According to the committee’s findings, Dr Majid had embezzled the aforesaid amount through the sale of prospectuses to students and entrance test fee.

A syndicate member told Dawn that Dr Majid had moved court against his suspension, but the court ordered him to wait for the syndicate’s decision.

“Now Mr Majid will either return the university’s money or face NAB,” he added.

Dr Majid told this reporter on Thursday that he did not appropriate even a single penny, claiming that in fact the university owed him Rs3.8 million. He added that he had spent the money from his own pocket to develop the PUCIT.

Being the only PhD in Information Technology, he claimed that the PU vice-chancellor had requested him to run a varsity computer college.

He regretted that he became a victim of ‘PU administration mafia,’ which he claimed was very close to the VC and had never allowed him to see things in a transparent manner.

He alleged that the mafia wanted him to allow affiliation to private computer colleges, which even didn’t have infrastructures.

During his 14-month tenure, he said not a single private college succeeded in getting the university’s affiliation. He added that more than three dozen ineligible private colleges obtained affiliation after his suspension.

According to Dr Majid, the college during his tenure had earned Rs80 million for which the university had no record of spending.

He also alleged that the mafia wanted to remove him because he was becoming a threat to its interest. “It is also pressuring me to quit the country, but I prefer to stay here to prove my innocence.”

Mr Majid said he had introduced drop-out system in the PUCIT, which was abolished by the present administration to help influential students continue their studies without showing satisfactory performance.